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The Rise Of Kat
194 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2026
About the author
Shmieka Roberts
2 booksAll I've ever wanted to do is tell stories.
Long before I published my first novel, I was captivated by the power of words. How they could persuade, comfort, challenge, or completely change the way someone sees the world. I spent years with my nose buried in books, fascinated not only by the stories themselves, but by the way language could make people feel. Even when I briefly considered becoming a lawyer, I eventually realized it was never really about the law. It was about storytelling.
I don't write to provide easy answers. I'm drawn to the gray spaces between right and wrong, to the people trying their best through impossible circumstances, and to the idea that family isn't always who we're born to, sometimes it's who we choose. Whether I'm writing a crime thriller, psychological suspense, eventually a fantasy, or something else entirely, I'm always searching for the emotional truth at the heart of the story.
I believe the most memorable stories aren't the ones with the prettiest sentences. They're the ones that make us feel something real. As both a writer and a lifelong reader, I care more about authenticity than ornament, about characters who stay with us long after the final page, and about creating worlds readers can disappear into for just a little while.
No matter the genre, I'm interested in exploring the people at the center of the story, their flaws, their resilience, the relationships that define them, and the choices that shape who they become. Where those journeys lead is different every time.
When I'm not reading or writing, you'll usually find me spending time with my three incredible children or creating something with my hands. I love building miniature doll rooms, crafting furniture, sewing tiny clothes, customizing dolls, and turning ordinary materials into tiny worlds. Looking back, I think I've always been drawn to building things. Whether it's a story, a character, or a place someone can lose themselves in for a little while.
If my stories leave you thinking about a character long after you've closed the book, then I've done exactly what I set out to do.
Long before I published my first novel, I was captivated by the power of words. How they could persuade, comfort, challenge, or completely change the way someone sees the world. I spent years with my nose buried in books, fascinated not only by the stories themselves, but by the way language could make people feel. Even when I briefly considered becoming a lawyer, I eventually realized it was never really about the law. It was about storytelling.
I don't write to provide easy answers. I'm drawn to the gray spaces between right and wrong, to the people trying their best through impossible circumstances, and to the idea that family isn't always who we're born to, sometimes it's who we choose. Whether I'm writing a crime thriller, psychological suspense, eventually a fantasy, or something else entirely, I'm always searching for the emotional truth at the heart of the story.
I believe the most memorable stories aren't the ones with the prettiest sentences. They're the ones that make us feel something real. As both a writer and a lifelong reader, I care more about authenticity than ornament, about characters who stay with us long after the final page, and about creating worlds readers can disappear into for just a little while.
No matter the genre, I'm interested in exploring the people at the center of the story, their flaws, their resilience, the relationships that define them, and the choices that shape who they become. Where those journeys lead is different every time.
When I'm not reading or writing, you'll usually find me spending time with my three incredible children or creating something with my hands. I love building miniature doll rooms, crafting furniture, sewing tiny clothes, customizing dolls, and turning ordinary materials into tiny worlds. Looking back, I think I've always been drawn to building things. Whether it's a story, a character, or a place someone can lose themselves in for a little while.
If my stories leave you thinking about a character long after you've closed the book, then I've done exactly what I set out to do.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 4, 2026
Real, raw, and completely bada**. Katalyna "Kat" Hill is that girl! Even with all of the odds stacked against her, she still manages to come out on top. She is small but mighty, and I would put her up against any assassin. People are quickly fooled by her appearance until "Betty" enters the chat and shuts shit down. She a boss, she's lethal, and she has a moral compass. Her love life, if you can call it that, is chaotic. Living the life she lives makes it humanly impossible to have your typical love story, but that doesn't stop her from getting her fix as often as she needs to. I loved this story, and I can't wait for the next book.
August 8, 2026
Rise of Kat is John Wick if it took place with some characters from round the way. It’s sophisticated ratchetness with a main character who’s equal parts dangerous, believable, relatable and easy to root for.
At its heart, this is a story about found family wrapped inside an action-packed, high-stakes thriller about a woman who can kill you with her looks… and she’ll do much worse with a blade.
Kat is THAT GIRL.
She’s dangerous, complicated, fiercely loyal, emotionally messy, and she makes decisions that’ll have you screaming at the book. That’s part of what makes her work. She isn’t some perfect badass who always makes the right decision. She’ll frustrate you, make you understand her, and sometimes do both at the same time.
One of my favorite things about Rise of Kat is the found family. Underneath all the assassinations, secrets, violence and chaos, this is really a story about people finding family in each other and what they’re willing to do to protect it.
And let me talk about the prose for a second because it deserves its praise.
Author Shemika Roberts knows how to write dialogue that feels authentic. These characters TALK like people. Each character has a distinct voice, their personalities come through naturally, and there are moments that will legit make you laugh out loud.
Even when we’re dealing with assassins, criminal organizations and some wild situations, the characters themselves still feel grounded.
Rise of Kat is the origin story of your new favorite antiheroine, surrounded by some amazing side characters, complicated relationships, found family and enough secrets to keep everybody’s blood pressure high.
If you want a dramatic thriller with action, humor, romance, some sophisticated ratchetness and an unconventional, complex Black female lead, Rise of Kat is for you.
And if that ain’t your thing…
Be gone.
At its heart, this is a story about found family wrapped inside an action-packed, high-stakes thriller about a woman who can kill you with her looks… and she’ll do much worse with a blade.
Kat is THAT GIRL.
She’s dangerous, complicated, fiercely loyal, emotionally messy, and she makes decisions that’ll have you screaming at the book. That’s part of what makes her work. She isn’t some perfect badass who always makes the right decision. She’ll frustrate you, make you understand her, and sometimes do both at the same time.
One of my favorite things about Rise of Kat is the found family. Underneath all the assassinations, secrets, violence and chaos, this is really a story about people finding family in each other and what they’re willing to do to protect it.
And let me talk about the prose for a second because it deserves its praise.
Author Shemika Roberts knows how to write dialogue that feels authentic. These characters TALK like people. Each character has a distinct voice, their personalities come through naturally, and there are moments that will legit make you laugh out loud.
Even when we’re dealing with assassins, criminal organizations and some wild situations, the characters themselves still feel grounded.
Rise of Kat is the origin story of your new favorite antiheroine, surrounded by some amazing side characters, complicated relationships, found family and enough secrets to keep everybody’s blood pressure high.
If you want a dramatic thriller with action, humor, romance, some sophisticated ratchetness and an unconventional, complex Black female lead, Rise of Kat is for you.
And if that ain’t your thing…
Be gone.
August 13, 2026
five stars but honestly I’d give it more!!
The Rise of Kat easily ranks as one of my favorite reads of the year! From the very beginning, this book grabbed my attention and refused to let me go. It was action-packed, fast-paced, and so vividly written that I felt like I was watching a movie unfold right in front of me.
One of my favorite parts was getting to witness Kat’s transformation throughout the story. Her growth was captivating, and she quickly became one of my favorite characters, right alongside Emmett. 👀
Everything about this book delivered—the action, the characters, the storyline, and the overall experience. I was completely invested from beginning to end, and now I’m sitting here impatiently waiting for Part Two! 😂
If you’re looking for a book that will pull you in and keep you turning the pages, I highly recommend The Rise of Kat. Shmieka Roberts definitely understood the assignment with this one!
Absolutely a favorite read of the year! 🔥📚
The Rise of Kat easily ranks as one of my favorite reads of the year! From the very beginning, this book grabbed my attention and refused to let me go. It was action-packed, fast-paced, and so vividly written that I felt like I was watching a movie unfold right in front of me.
One of my favorite parts was getting to witness Kat’s transformation throughout the story. Her growth was captivating, and she quickly became one of my favorite characters, right alongside Emmett. 👀
Everything about this book delivered—the action, the characters, the storyline, and the overall experience. I was completely invested from beginning to end, and now I’m sitting here impatiently waiting for Part Two! 😂
If you’re looking for a book that will pull you in and keep you turning the pages, I highly recommend The Rise of Kat. Shmieka Roberts definitely understood the assignment with this one!
Absolutely a favorite read of the year! 🔥📚
August 5, 2026
Katalyna "Kat" Hill needs to be on my tv screen so I can see her in action. She's an assassin, but she doesn't accept just any job. The people she goes after must fit her code, or she's not doing it. This book is action packed, spicy, and it will keep you reading and wanting more. That ending has me anxious for book 2 because I just know Kat is going to set the city ablaze behind her friend. If you are looking for a suspense read that has a strong female lead, then look no further.
August 2, 2026
Assassin FMC that gets up close and personal
Kat Hill is a baddie, who names her weapon Betty. She comes from rough beginnings, her bestie the only light, but her life changes. And in a pretty bad way, she finds that the only one who can protect her, is her. I love this story, the layers and of course, the love triangle she gets tangled up in. The author has a way with words that are grounding you into Kat’s way of life and her prose are not flowery but raw and edgy. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kat Hill is a baddie, who names her weapon Betty. She comes from rough beginnings, her bestie the only light, but her life changes. And in a pretty bad way, she finds that the only one who can protect her, is her. I love this story, the layers and of course, the love triangle she gets tangled up in. The author has a way with words that are grounding you into Kat’s way of life and her prose are not flowery but raw and edgy. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 10, 2026
Woah
The description in this book is top notch and I can’t believe it was this short, I wish it was longer but I can’t wait for Kat, my dangerous and rather, 🙃 lovely lady to be apart of. Can’t wait for Book 2.
The description in this book is top notch and I can’t believe it was this short, I wish it was longer but I can’t wait for Kat, my dangerous and rather, 🙃 lovely lady to be apart of. Can’t wait for Book 2.
August 4, 2026
Female assassin, a hot love triangle, secrets, and lies. Yes, please. Loved this book so much. I recommend it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews